Republic News

SOUNDGARDEN: Back with a Bam!

Soundgarden premiered a trailer for their brand new video and second single “By Crooked Steps” on AOL’s NOISECREEP recently, followed by the premiere of the full video shortly thereafter.

The video, conceived and directed by friend and fan Dave Grohl, depicts the “Crooked Steps” gang, aka Soundgarden, cruising around the tough streets of LA, with a sly cop played by none other than Deadmau5. Dave said about approaching the band to direct the video, “I had an idea. I got a copy of the record and the third song ‘By Crooked Steps’ was a signature, instantly recognizable Soundgarden song,” and the rest was history.

King Animal is Soundgarden’s first album in over 15 years. The album was co-produced by the band and Adam Kasper at Studio X in Seattle and was released on November 13 via Loma Vista Recordings/Republic Records to rave reviews from peers, fans and critics alike. Making waves at radio, first single, “Been Away Too Long,” topped the Active Rock charts for 5 weeks.

Soundgarden are currently on a sold-out Winter 2013 tour in support of their latest release King Animal, performing across the country including two-night engagements in New York City, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and a three-night run in Los Angeles. The band have announced they will be headlining this year’s MMR-BQ and will perform at Rock on the Range ­ details below! Both Soundgarden and Chris Cornell also performed at the esteemed inauguration earlier this month, celebrating a new term for President Obama. It’s been a non-stop, victorious whirlwind since the band reformed over two years ago.

Media Praise for King Animal:

“Time has stood still, rightfully and triumphantly, for Soundgarden’s music, which is still the moody, heaving, asymmetrical hard rock that made the band a trailblazer of grunge.”-The New York Times

“sounds like vintage Soundgarden, with Cornell wailing over brutal, monster-size guitar riffs like a wolf with its leg in a trap.”-Rolling Stone

“King Animal proves that Soundgarden still have their muscle.”- CNN

“…This blast of jagged energy proves the Seattle band can indeed take up the sonic residence it once had- and redecorate a little bit at the same time.” ­ Billboard

“King Animal not only delivers all the heaviness, darkness, and beautiful weirdness that made Soundgarden so great in the first place, but also seem to actually benefit from the passage of time since the band¹s last studio album.”- Revolver

“This beast doesn’t temper expectations. It lowers its massive antlered head and simply walks forward. It doesn’t run because it doesn’t need to, and what doesn’t run from it gets run over. In the chorus of “Non-State Actor,” Cornell sings the song of his band’s bestial spirit guide: “We’ll settle for a little bit more than everything.” Because that’s what a King Animal was born to do.” ­ SPIN

“Aesthetically speaking, it’s almost as if no time has passed at all. Kim Thayil maintains his bluesy, Tony Lommi-inspired riff style. Matt Cameron’s drums still pop with the intensity he kept in the ‘90s. And Cornell can definitely still wail”-American Songwriter

“Soundgarden’s reboot has everything a fan who fell for them in their heyday could hope for.”- New York Daily News